News from Copenhagen

Number 515 Current Information from the OSCE PA International Secretariat 2 April 2014 Krivokapic makes presidential visit to Moscow and OSCE Parliamentary Administration Roberto Montella, as well as several members Assembly President of his own staff. During his visit to Moscow, Krivokapic Ranko Krivokapic met met with ’s Delegation to the PA and was joined by with Sergey Naryshkin, Nikolay Kovalev, the Head of the Delegation, in his meeting Chair of the Russian with Chairman Naryshkin. Following his Moscow meetings, , and Krivokapic traveled to Kyiv, where he met with Acting Valentina Matviyenko, Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov and members of President Ranko Krivokapic and Chair of Russia’s ’s Delegation to the OSCE PA. State Duma Chair Sergey Naryshkin Federation Council, on In his meeting with Turchynov, Krivokapic underlined the 31 March in Moscow OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s support for the territorial for talks that focused on the need to de-escalate the situation integrity of Ukraine, and pledged that the PA would do in Ukraine and the OSCE PA’s plans to monitor Ukraine’s whatever it can to assist the country. He also expressed the upcoming presidential election. Assembly’s hope that observers will have the possibility “A solution to the crisis in Ukraine will only be possible to visit all parts of Ukraine on election day and in the pre- when Russia plays a constructive role,” Krivokapic said. election phase. Krivokapic was accompanied by Deputy Secretary He was accompanied by OSCE PA Vice-President Walburga General Semyon Dzakhaev and Director of Presidential Habsburg Douglas (MP, Sweden), as well as Roberto Montella. PA delegation conducts pre-election visit to Ukraine, meets with Acting President A delegation of senior OSCE parliamentarians completed a pre-election visit to Ukraine on 28 March that included discussions with Acting President Oleksandr Turchynov. Joao Soares (MP, Portugal), who will serve as Special Co-ordinator of the OSCE short-term observer mission for the country’s presidential vote in May, led the visit to Kyiv. He was joined by Makis Voridis (MP, ), who will head the OSCE PA election observation delegation, OSCE PA Vice-President Joao Soares (left), Ilkka Kanerva (center) and Makis Voridis (right) are Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland), OSCE PA Secretary General interviewed by U.S. National Public Radio above Maidan Square. Spencer Oliver, Programme Director Anna Chernova and Commission; members of Ukraine’s Delegation to the OSCE Communications Director Richard Solash. Parliamentary Assembly; Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Long- The group also met with Deputy Minister for Foreign Term Observation Mission to Ukraine Tana de Zulueta; Affairs Andrii Olefirov; the Chairman of the Ambassador Madina Jarbussynova of the OSCE Project Committee on State-Building and Local Self-Governance Co-ordinator’s Office; and members of the public and the David Zhvania; representatives of the Central Election media. Albanian Speaker of Parliament visits International Secretariat

Speaker Ilir Meta, Ambassador Arben Cici and colleagues meet with Secretary General Spencer Oliver and staff. Albanian Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta visited the OSCE election observation missions, the Assembly’s efforts in PA International Secretariat in Copenhagen on 2 April. Ukraine and the Helsinki +40 Project, and thanked the Speaker Meta stressed the need to continue improving delegation for Albania’s active participation in the PA, regional co-operation and the PA’s role in doing so. Secretary highlighting in particular Albania’s successful hosting of the General Spencer Oliver briefed the delegation on ongoing 2012 Autumn Meeting. For further information, please contact Secretary General Spencer Oliver, Communications Director Richard Solash or Editorial Director Nat Parry at +45 33 37 80 40 or email [email protected].